for the weeks that Aqua Blu
will take by-the-stateroom
bookings. ¶ “But we can get
whatever people want,” he
says. “If they want U.S.-bottled
Coke, they can have it. We’ve
done that request. We are in
business for the clients, not
‘I’ll charter it when I’m not us-
ing it.’” ¶ Zugaro is also trying
to ensure that Aqua Blu be-
comes known as a yacht that
is showing off the region while
helping to protect it, as well as
its indigenous people. He is
hiring local rangers to come
aboard and take guests into
the parks, so the rangers won’t
feel like they’re promoting a
foreign yacht in their commu-
nities. The yacht’s full-time
paramedic will go ashore
and help local children with
medical needs. And Zugaro has
organized donation kits that
charter guests can purchase,
if they choose, to give to the
locals. The kits are packed
with things such as soap,
books, salt and fi shing weights.
¶ “That way, we are removing
all the plastic and packaging,
and we’re giving them thingsSEPTEMBER 2019 YACHTING59